In over thirty years of collecting, amassing, or just hoarding bikes and frames, depending on which member of my family you chance to speak to, I have never had the chance to buy an Oscar Egg..not until this last year that is.
In all that time the most often requested information on transfers that I received concerned Oscar Egg bikes. I recall pressing my nose against the window of Egg's shop on the Avenue de la Grande Armee, in Paris, just over the top of the Champs Elysees, and down the other side, about two hundred and fifty metres on the left hand side, but, curiously, I have never been able to remember what the bikes or their transfers looked like. I actually took photos of the Wolber shop and the Danguillaume family-run Mercier shop both just a bit further down, but not of the Oscar Egg shop.
Possibly because of these random occurrences I have long wanted one, a desire heightened when List member, Stuart Tallack, sent me photos of his machine and of one of Neville March's. Then suddenly, just a year ago I spotted one on French ebay with all transfers intact..and in "team light metallic green". Fortunately the seller agreed to store the machine until I could pick it up some months later.
By this time I had also picked up a 30/40s machine at a charity depot in France, a machine fully equipped with Super Champion drop-outs and rear mech..and elaborately windowed cast lugs. I had presumed it was an early Helyett, due to the depot being not too far from Sully-sur-Loire where Helyett had its factory. However the frame had no transfers nor any holes on the head-tube for badge. Around about the same time I won a touring/randonneur frame on French Ebay, of completely unknown brand..factory-new but without paint, transfers or head-badge...but what a beautiful and very light frame it was..and what attractive cast lugwork.
In June I won an Oscar Egg Randonneur bike on French Ebay;it has a full set of transfers..but unfortunately it is, at best, a second tier model. Then in September I won yet another Egg road bike, a 60/70s model on french Ebay, and was fortunate in having it picked up by the fellow who was still looking after my first Ebay Egg..
I made a rendezvous to collect the two bikes in "storage" as I drove through France in early October. Both of these 60/70s Eggs are second tier machines..but both are immaculate in appearance and kit. However the "guardian" sensed my disappointment and, taking me into his storage shed, proceeded to offer me two other Oscar Egg frames...but these were very light and obviously top-of-the-range..That offer still stands...but just how many Eggs make a collection?
However..by that time I had embarked on some serious research into Oscar Egg's range of frames and discovered that the bike I had assumed was a Helyett is in fact a 1930sEgg, the "Super Route Speciale" and the randonneur frame is, I have been told, the "Grand Sport" touring model.
So..in one year I had amassed five Eggs..with two more on offer. On my return journey through France in November, I chanced to call in on the fellow I had come to call the "Eggman" to check over the availablity of frames and to collect another bike he was storing for me...another Egg.
Just as I was hanging that on the back of the car he called me once again to view his latest find..two more Eggs...but what Eggs. Both of them were luglessly elegant and, I assume, touring frames judging by the Nivex rear drop-outs. But these were not for sale, or at least not yet!
So why was he showing them to me? Simply because he needed at least one NIVEX gear to get a machine up and running. As he had done so much to help me, I promised that I would broadcast his request to the List..so if anyone out there has a Nivex rear mech, but does not have a frame to hang it on..and would like to sell it to a good home, I would be extremely obliged if you would contact me off-List. Oh, and if anyone has a pair of Egg s/f hubs or brakes..I would be interested in those for one of my buid-ups.
Norris Lockley..trying to face up to this problem "Egg-on"..Settle UK